This morning I was out having a cup of coffee with a close brother in Christ. We had just finished an early morning ride on our motorcycles and were sharing a time of fellowship. Which means we weren't just hanging around as buddies but discussing perspectives of our Christian walk. The topic of being busy came up and I was asked to comment on what I thought that meant for us and ministry. This is a very pertinent topic for those who have given their lives to Christ and especially here in the US where there are a lot of demands on our time.
Though I know it is a matter of balance to insure that I prioritize my time to insure that God is first, followed by my family and ministry. I know that I still continue to over commit myself when faced with many opportunities for ministry, work and personal life. As a matter of fact this blog is one of them. You might have noticed that my original intent was a weekly posting, preferably on Friday evening. I have not been able to keep that commitment the past several weeks and I apologize for those who might have been waiting of looking in the mean time for an update.
Are there incidents in the Bible where someone becomes too busy, even doing God's work.
Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
Paul who is an Apostle for Christ is writing to the Roman's a letter to explain the Gospel message. Here at the beginning he lets them know of his plans. He has requested through prayer that God make it possible for him to visit the Romans. Currently Paul is already involved with a ministry to the Gentiles in Asia Minor, where he has also been collecting money to bring to the Christians in Jerusalem for relief from a famine there. Even though Paul is not married and doesn't have kids he still has only limited time and availability. He can only do so much. He wanted to go to Rome, but he was hindered by all the work he was already doing. Paul is saying I am ready, in my mind I desire to preach the Gospel to Greeks, and barbarians, wise and unwise.
Lets jump to the end of Romans:
Rom 15:22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ...28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
I won't comment too much on this passage but to point out that Paul was currently ministering in Macedonia and Achaia, planned to travel to Jerusalem, visit the Saints in Roman and then go on to Spain. After visiting Jerusalem Paul ended up in prison in Rome. Paul was repeatedly overwhelmed by the opportunity to preach the Gospel. Even Jesus during his three years of ministry found the work overwhelming and needed to set time to withdraw and renew His strength.
Mt 14:22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
I would encourage you to heed the warning made popular in a song from Simon and Garfunkel called "Feeling Groovy". The song starts out with "Slow Down You Move Too Fast". We need to set aside time to pray and renew our strength and allow God to empower you by His Holy Spirit.
Please keep me in prayer to insure that I am able to be faithful in providing encouragement through God's Word and that I don't take on more than is good for keeping my priorities straight.
This is a blog for the general public to create awareness that God has sent a Savior for us. He is Jesus Christ God's Son. We no longer need to walk in darkness, desperation and depression.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Messiah has Come (the searching is over)
The short passage we are going to look at highlights the ongoing approach we have talked about in previous posts. Luke was looking for the truth and reliable account of events. Along with that we see that these are stories about real people.
Luke 2:36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years,[i] who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord,[j] and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Luke spends 2 verses giving us a biography of Anna, and then only one verse on what she did. Luke does not elaborate, pontificate or add information that does not exist. He lets what has been told and the Holy Spirit to provide understanding.
Anna was a real person, the daughter of Phannuel of the tribe of Asher. I believe that when we read the Bible and we see us the many verses that cover genealogy and who is who's daughter, son, father, mother, etc., it helps us know that if the people were real people then the stories are real stories. They are real history of events that took place. They are not fanciful legends or myths created to make us spiritually aware, but real incidents that give us insight into God and His relationship to us.
Anna was a prophetess. Like Simeon who was led by the Holy Spirit and proclaimed by His guidance, Anna is also recognized as one who speaks God's words. It would not be necessary to think that Anna made proclamations of the future, she could have simply been known as someone who knew scripture and proclaimed it for the edification of others. Her familiarity with scripture would have made her very aware of the sin of Israel and there need for the Messiah. Anna in her devotion might have been inspired by Joel 2:1,2, 12,13.
Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For the day of the LORD is coming,
For it is at hand:
2 A day of darkness and gloominess,
A day of clouds and thick darkness,
Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains.
A people come, great and strong,
The like of whom has never been;
Nor will there ever be any such after them,
Even for many successive generations.
12 “ Now, therefore,” says the LORD,
“ Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
Anna was old. I can only guess from these verses, but if she married at 15, was married 7 years and a widow 84 years, that would make her about 106 years old. I imagine that one reason her age is mentioned is that in the Jewish culture of the time, there was much respect to those who were older and wiser.
Anna was dedicated to God. Since loosing her husband in her early 20's she dedicated her life to worshiping God through fasting and prayer. We are again given a picture of someone who can wait, who has patience and is satisfied with what the Lord has given her.
It would appear that at the instant that Simeon proclaimed who Jesus was, Anna heard, believed and began sharing with others. Her actions on hearing were to not only proclaim who Jesus was, but to bring assurance to all the others who were seeking and waiting. Anna's audience is just like mine. My hope for this blog is to bring hope and assurance to those Searching for the Savior. If you are searching, He is real, He has come, He has given His life for you. Praise God, He has fulfilled his promises.
Luke 2:36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years,[i] who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord,[j] and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Luke spends 2 verses giving us a biography of Anna, and then only one verse on what she did. Luke does not elaborate, pontificate or add information that does not exist. He lets what has been told and the Holy Spirit to provide understanding.
Anna was a real person, the daughter of Phannuel of the tribe of Asher. I believe that when we read the Bible and we see us the many verses that cover genealogy and who is who's daughter, son, father, mother, etc., it helps us know that if the people were real people then the stories are real stories. They are real history of events that took place. They are not fanciful legends or myths created to make us spiritually aware, but real incidents that give us insight into God and His relationship to us.
Anna was a prophetess. Like Simeon who was led by the Holy Spirit and proclaimed by His guidance, Anna is also recognized as one who speaks God's words. It would not be necessary to think that Anna made proclamations of the future, she could have simply been known as someone who knew scripture and proclaimed it for the edification of others. Her familiarity with scripture would have made her very aware of the sin of Israel and there need for the Messiah. Anna in her devotion might have been inspired by Joel 2:1,2, 12,13.
Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For the day of the LORD is coming,
For it is at hand:
2 A day of darkness and gloominess,
A day of clouds and thick darkness,
Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains.
A people come, great and strong,
The like of whom has never been;
Nor will there ever be any such after them,
Even for many successive generations.
12 “ Now, therefore,” says the LORD,
“ Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
Anna was old. I can only guess from these verses, but if she married at 15, was married 7 years and a widow 84 years, that would make her about 106 years old. I imagine that one reason her age is mentioned is that in the Jewish culture of the time, there was much respect to those who were older and wiser.
Anna was dedicated to God. Since loosing her husband in her early 20's she dedicated her life to worshiping God through fasting and prayer. We are again given a picture of someone who can wait, who has patience and is satisfied with what the Lord has given her.
It would appear that at the instant that Simeon proclaimed who Jesus was, Anna heard, believed and began sharing with others. Her actions on hearing were to not only proclaim who Jesus was, but to bring assurance to all the others who were seeking and waiting. Anna's audience is just like mine. My hope for this blog is to bring hope and assurance to those Searching for the Savior. If you are searching, He is real, He has come, He has given His life for you. Praise God, He has fulfilled his promises.
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